Question about people in need/the poor

[Amandylinee]

Today I was coming out of confession, and a man, his wife, and their dog came driving in as I was walking out in the church parking lot. The man asked me if there were any sisters or deacons around. I said that there were three priests in the church doing confessions. The man explained to me that they aren’t doing so well right now: they had no lodgings, had been wearing the same clothes, etc. I didn’t know what to do. I was short on cash and was about to go buy dinner for me and my mom. I told them that there were three priests and that they could talk to them in confession or wait for them so that they could talk to a priest. I told them there was 9 am Mass in the morning(the man asked if there was a service going on). I also told them that I was sorry and that I would pray for them. They told me not to be sorry, thanked me, and drove off(assuming that they would come back, because confession would go on for another 40 minutes). I just felt like I should have done something. My mom told me I had to be careful considering I’m a young girl and that I did the right thing, but I just feel guilty. (name removed by moderator)ut?

 

[chepner3]

I think you did the right thing. They didn’t ask you for money. They asked to see a priest.

 

[puzzleannie]

I just felt like I should have done something. My mom told me I had to be careful considering I’m a young girl and that I did the right thing, but I just feel guilty. (name removed by moderator)ut?

your feeling is admirable but frankly if you were my daughter I would remind you again about speaking to strangers, especially strangers in a car who engage you in an extended conversation. You did the right thing in telling the to go inside and find a priest.

 

[MarkInOregon]

Today I was coming out of confession, and a man, his wife, and their dog came driving in as I was walking out in the church parking lot. The man asked me if there were any sisters or deacons around. I said that there were three priests in the church doing confessions. The man explained to me that they aren’t doing so well right now: they had no lodgings, had been wearing the same clothes, etc. I didn’t know what to do. I was short on cash and was about to go buy dinner for me and my mom. I told them that there were three priests and that they could talk to them in confession or wait for them so that they could talk to a priest. I told them there was 9 am Mass in the morning(the man asked if there was a service going on). I also told them that I was sorry and that I would pray for them. They told me not to be sorry, thanked me, and drove off(assuming that they would come back, because confession would go on for another 40 minutes). I just felt like I should have done something. My mom told me I had to be careful considering I’m a young girl and that I did the right thing, but I just feel guilty. (name removed by moderator)ut?

I guess I’d be currious as to how old you are–“young” can cover a lot of ground–and might make a difference. That said I guess I am troubled by puzzelannie’s response–even though I understand where she is comming from having two young daughters myself. It is this type of response that makes it difficult for those who find themselves in difficult situations. The situation is difficult and embassassing enough without being shunned or avoided by fearful people who won’t talk to strangers. They came to a church and asked a litgitimate question–are there any sisters or deacons around. At our parish office we get many people inquiring about diapers, food, a place to stay, a coat – so there is nothing in this interaction that should have invoked fear and the conversation as you described it hardly seems extended. I think you handled it well, you let them know where the priests were, when they’d be available, apologized that you were not able to help them and let them know you’d pray for them–there is not much more you could have done at that time. They thanked you and left. You showed them a small act of kindness–sometimes that can make a huge difference for someone. It is hard to know what we can do in situations like this because we are usually unprepared–we don’t normally carry food with us–though I know people who keep a sack lunch in the car for just such an occassion, we don’t usually have the name, address and directions to nearby shelters, food pantrys, soup kitchens, etc handy to give to those seeking assistance–perhaps we should. I commend you for being concerned. In this day and age so many are fearful of engaging anyone and are so fearful of being scammed that they avoid helping those in need that are right infront of them. I, too, am guilty of this and I beg forgivness for that.

So yes you did the right thing under the circumstances, but I would ask that you, along with all of us, think about ways that we can be more prepared to address these situations when they arise. So that we can do more than say we are sorry and can truly offer some meaningful assistance to our brothers and sisters–so that we can all be the good samaritan.

Peace and God bless you,
Mark

 

[Castello]

So that we can do more than say we are sorry and can truly offer some meaningful assistance to our brothers and sisters–so that we can all be the good samaritan.

Peace and God bless you,
Mark

Like the good samaratian did, direct them (because not many of us are equipt to drive them there) to those with the resources and training to assist. A slip of paper in your pocket with the name of food pantry, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, St Vincent de Paul Society is something we should all carry!

 

[Catholic1954]

Today I was coming out of confession, and a man, his wife, and their dog came driving in as I was walking out in the church parking lot. The man asked me if there were any sisters or deacons around. I said that there were three priests in the church doing confessions. The man explained to me that they aren’t doing so well right now: they had no lodgings, had been wearing the same clothes, etc. I didn’t know what to do. I was short on cash and was about to go buy dinner for me and my mom. I told them that there were three priests and that they could talk to them in confession or wait for them so that they could talk to a priest. I told them there was 9 am Mass in the morning(the man asked if there was a service going on). I also told them that I was sorry and that I would pray for them. They told me not to be sorry, thanked me, and drove off(assuming that they would come back, because confession would go on for another 40 minutes). I just felt like I should have done something. My mom told me I had to be careful considering I’m a young girl and that I did the right thing, but I just feel guilty. (name removed by moderator)ut?

There is no need to feel guilty. You answered the man’s question and it is up to him to use the information, or not. They were probably looking for some kind of organizational assistance and heard that a Catholic church might help them, they very well may have returned later and got help from the priests.